Robert F. Smith and Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer have launched the very first mobile prostate cancer screening bus in the United States. Prostate cancer is a very common disease that many men are at risk of developing in their lifetime. In fact, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men (outside of skin cancer), and it’s the 4th most common cancer diagnosis globally.
Another tragic fact is that Black men are at a much higher risk of developing this disease and eventually dying from it compared to white men. To address this issue affecting the Black community, Smith donated $3.8 million to Mount Sinai for the official launch of the Robert F. Smith Mobile MRI Unit to support prostate health awareness. This community effort will help provide increased education, awareness, and early detection screening to Black men across New York City’s greater neighborhoods of color to prevent prostate cancer from progressing further.
The Goal: Reach More At-Risk Black Communities
Black men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men. While a clear reason for these substantial differences can’t be exactly defined, a variety of different factors could be contributing to the inequity. In the United States, Black Americans can be at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving the necessary preventative care needed for health concerns making them at-risk for diseases such as prostate cancer. With increased care and awareness, the racial divide for prostate cancer in men is narrowing. Early detection of this hard-hitting disease is crucial to increasing survivability. That’s why Smith has partnered with Mount Sinai to offer prostate health screenings for the Black community.
The Robert F. Smith Mobile MRI Unit
The new Robert F. Smith Mobile MRI Unit will bring prostate cancer screening directly to Black men in the communities of Central, Eastern, and West Harlem; the Upper East Side; and Queens. These communities of color are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from it than white communities. That’s why it’s crucial to have tools such as the Mobile MRI Unit in place for early detection and prevention of this disease.
“This past year has laid bare many of the economic and social inequities that continue to plague communities of color, it’s unconscionable that in our great country and at this moment of technological breakthrough, Black Americans are still subject to staggeringly worse health outcomes. We can fix this. I’m grateful to Mount Sinai for being a standout in providing world-class care to all patients, and I’m honored to help their team serve New York City’s communities with early detection and a path to curative treatments.”
Robert F. Smith
This state-of-the-art mobile facility will provide the necessary tools for advanced screening for prostate cancer by trained medical professionals. Through this community outreach program, the Mount Sinai Health Center hopes to:
- Raise awareness about prostate cancer and the screening services offered by the Mobile MRI Unit.
- Set up prostate screening appointments in predominantly Black neighborhoods across New York City.
- Schedule follow-up visits for patients with urologists at the Mount Sinai Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer.
The Mobile MRI Unit will be able to bring this technology and testing straight to the Black communities of Harlem and beyond. Access to an MRI can be life changing and aids in early detection of this disease in Black Americans. If abnormally high PSA levels are detected, Mount Sinai will develop a treatment plan for the patient which will include follow-up visits at Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer.
About Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer
Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer offers state-of-the-art technology to find the best approach to diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. As a full-service health system, this facility collaborates with The Tisch Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, to offer patients with new therapies and treatments through clinical trials. Early detection is key to fighting prostate cancer and giving people another chance at life through life saving treatments. With the launch of the Mobile MRI Unit, Mount Sinai will be able to provide crucial screening to Black men and detect this disease in the early stages of its cycle.
Learn more about Robert F. Smith’s philanthropic endeavors around cancer in the Black community, such as with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Susan G. Komen, and stay up to date with the latest initiatives at Mount Sinai.
Photo Courtesy: “Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening” by Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center.
